Printer s rule



(No Model.)

- J..B. BOYD.

PRINTERS RULE. No. 260,084. r Patented June 27, 1882.

Fig.1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH B. BOYD, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

PRI NTERS RULE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 260,084, dated June 27, 18 82.

' Application filed April 11, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. BOYD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have igvented certain new and useful Improvements in Printers Rules, of which the following is a specification.

My invention comprises a great variety of peculiarly-constructed rules wherewith any printer can readily set up very attractive and symmetrical borders, corner pieces, &c., although such ornaments may be quite complicated in arrangement. Heretofore these ornaments have been formed by bending an ordinary rule to the desired angle or curve; but such an expedient is very tedious and unsatisfactory, especially if a heavy rule is employed, as few printing-offices are provided with proper appliances for this purpose. Furthermore, after one rule has been bent it is almost an impossibility to shape another precisely like it for the opposite side or end of the border or corner-piece, and hence two rules thus formed seldom present a symmetrical appearance, although considerable time may have been con sumed in setting them up: To overcome these difficulties I make use preferably of a comparatively short rule, having a tongue or projection at either-or both ends, which tongue is bent or curved or otherwise permanently deflected laterally, and is adapted to clear the spaces or quadrats employed for retaining the type in their proper position in the form. These tongues, being bent, curved, or otherwise formed by suitable dies, swages, or other appliances, will retain their shape for an indefinite period of time, and, being made by machinery, any pattern can be reproduced as often as desired, thereby insuring the utmost uniformity and regularity of appearance of the I ornaments composed with my rules, as herein-- Fig. 2 is another perspective view-of the rule,

but showing the tongue of the same inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees. Figs. 3 and 4 are plans showing two different combinations of this form of rule. Fig. 5 is a perspective view, showing the r'ule tongue bent to a quarter-circle. Figs. 6 and 7 are plans showing two different combinations of this form of rule. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are plans of various modifications of my invention.

A represents an ordinary metallic rule of any suitable size and shape, said rule being constructed with a tongue or narrow terminal projection, B, the space 0 beneath this tongue being sufficient to admit the quads used in all printing-offiees, &c.- This tongue B,wl1ieh may be of any suitable length, is capable of being permanently curved or bent laterally to' any desired angle or degree. As seen in Fig. 2, the tongue is inclined at an angle of fortyfive degrees, although a greater or less angle may be formed, if desired. One rule having been thus bent, and another one, A B, being inclined in an opposite manner and the two brought together, the border seen in Fig. 3 is produced, additional rules a a being set up in line with the rules A A for the purpose of increasing the length of the border or other orlength of said border being indefinitely increased by extra rules a a.

As seen in Fig. 7, the rules A B A" B! are arranged to produce another different form of curved border; but,if preferred,the rule A" B may be omitted and the rule A B be inserted in its place; or the angular and curved tongues may be arranged so as to produce various other combinations. 7

Figs. 8, .9, and 10 represent but three of an almost endless variety of shapes that may be imparted to the tongues, thus showing that my invention is not to be limited to any special forms or combinations of the same.

As the space 0 beneath tongue B is suflicient to admit the ordinary quads, it is evident the tongue will clear the latter and not rest thereon. These rules can be made in large quantities at a mere nominal cost, and can be furnished with such bent or curved tongues as may be demanded by the trade. Consequently printers will have nothing to do but to arrange the rules to suit their fancy, the labor of bending or otherwise shaping the tongues having been previously accomplished.

' As curves, sweeps, angles, and other ornaments are generally employed at the corners of borders, &c.,the rule proper A, may in most cases be comparatively short, although it can be made of any desired length, with a tongue at both ends.

\Vhen a very complex form of tongue is made-as, for example, a zigzag or a continuous corrugation-said tongue may be soldered to the rule at suitable intervals; or the tongue,

JOSEPH B. BOYD.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. LAYMAN, SAML. S. CARPENTER. 

